Global disperse teams are facing problem to collaboration and communication due to different time zones .what are the good collaboration tools to fix this problem ? Saving Changes...
There are tons of great tools (e.g. Confluence, SharePoint, Slack, instant messaging, video conferencing), but the behavior and attitude changes required to effectively work with dispersed team members is usually the bigger challenge.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Jesus MartheynProject Manager SR Lvl 2| GlobantMedellin, Antioquia, Colombia
In my experience, it depends on the planning and the attitude of the team about this. We have to consider when planning the lead times between communications but also, how can you fix an agreement with the teams involved to use the tools available to communicate. No matter if the teams are allocated if they don't want to communicate, no matter the tools and time zone. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
After working from more than 25 years in this type of environments I fully agree with @Kiron comments here. Tools are silver bullets without taking into account @Kiron comments. Saving Changes...
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
I agree with Kiron. In addition to what has already been said, in my experience other challenges (related indirectly to different time zone) was cultural differences and different approaches to solve and manage problems, to engage stakeholders and to make self-assumptions (dangerous if are not shared with others). Cultural differences could become opportunities if well driven. Saving Changes...
Stelian ROMANProject Manager| MicroSafetyCarlingford, New South Wales, Australia
Agree with @Kiron, @Sergio, @Andy, @Giuseppe but a tool is a tool. It is more important to clearly define teh scope and build a team spirit. Short term planning also helps. I found conference calls more effective that wiki pages or forums.
"Individuals and interactions over processes and tools" Saving Changes...
Stelian ROMANProject Manager| MicroSafetyCarlingford, New South Wales, Australia
As a side note 3 of the 4 Agile values are not really new or against planned approach frameworks: There is nothing in the PMBoK against "Individuals and interactions over processes and tools","Working software over comprehensive documentation","Customer collaboration over contract negotiation". Notwithstanding that all software development teams are using tools, even for collaboration, the trend (devops) is towards tools and automation. Same trend that in manufacturing started over 100 years ago. Automation can be done in many ways..
"Responding to change over following a plan" is what Agile brought new. "Responding to Change" is what in manufacturing was defined as Agile in 1970s. The difference is that "that" Agile's goal "responding fast to change" and was already integrated with Lean practices. Saving Changes...
Roberto Perez-de-FriasGlobal Supply Chain Transformation & Integrated Business Planning PMO and OCM| Zimmer BiometWarsaw, In, United States
In my experience, technology and tools certainly provide the framework for communication, but as other point out, managing the team's expectations, understanding their challenges, listening to them and making them part of the solution by engaging them in the challenge solving process has always proven more effective in getting the team aligned to surpass the obstacles. Another thing that in my experience has helped in terms of collaboration is, that as a manager, it is your responsibility to ensure that the team goals are clear, all team members are aligned to the goals, and the goals and objectives of each different functional/regional group align across the board (common goal). If you have competing or conflicting goals, collaboration will certainly not be there and teams will try to reach their own goals without regard to other teams. Saving Changes...
Jason KaiserIT Project Manager| Oregon Department of TransportationOr, United States
A lot of great ideas!
A team must have trustworthy, optimistic leadership guided by vision and goals inspired by team collaboration; otherwise, it doesn’t matter how effective a communication tool is, the team won’t optimize its effectiveness nor will they buy into the bigger accomplishment.
In short, the PM approach is everything! Saving Changes...
